October 8, 2012 (Monday)
The television program “60 Minutes,” presented an unbelievable story yesterday about a man named, “Rodriguez,” who was a musician who made records 40 years ago that never sold in this country. Unknown to him, however, he and his music became famous in South Africa, and he is a legend there.
During the last 40 years, he just about gave up on music, got a degree in Philosophy, but worked as a manual laborer to make a living. People in his neighborhood in Detroit thought that he was just another homeless person, wandering the streets and carrying a guitar.
In recent years, his plight was discovered and he was welcomed in South Africa with limousines and 5000 people at a concert where he performed. At age 70, his fortunes have turned and he performs on tours. His records are selling. He has a good income.
The experience of this man made me think of those heroes of the faith listed and described in the Bible in Chapter 11 of the Book of Hebrews. Those dedicated people gave their all to God, won victories for Him, yet many of them were totally unknown to the world at large, were sadly mistreated, sometimes persecuted, even tortured, with many of them dying because they took a stand with God against an ungodly world. Their works, however, were well-known in Heaven. Here on earth they were obscure on the world scene, but in Heaven the angels were rejoicing over their faithfulness and successes in the Lord’s work. You and I will one day hear God say to them, “Well done,” and we shall rejoice as they are rewarded in Heaven.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV).